PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde can stay on in the position for up to three more years, it emerged tonight.
He is set to accept a contract extension offered by the authority monitoring his performance. But the police chief, revealed last month to have fathered a child outside his marriage, is understood to be ready to go before the new period expires.
In a major vote of confidence following the tabloid publicity around his private life, the Northern Ireland Policing Board confirmed tonight it agreed to give Sir Hugh up to three years more on his original fixed term contract.
"There was absolutely no dissent on this. He's a star performer," disclosed one Board member. Sir Hugh (48) a former senior Scotland Yard officer, beat off competition from two Assistant Chief Constables in Belfast to take command of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in September 2002.
Since his appointment on a five-year deal he has overseen major reforms to the Protestant-dominated force. His time in the £130,000-a-year job has also involved some of Belfast's most ferocious rioting and the £26.5 million raid on the city's Northern Bank headquarters.
He also held a series of meetings with Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness in advance of republicans' historic decision in January to support the PSNI.
But his image was tested by revelations of the affair with an undercover detective in the Metropolitan Police. Sir Hugh later apologised to RUC widows representatives over claims he snubbed a memorial service for officers killed in the line of duty to go running with his mistress.
At the time Policing Board Chairman Sir Desmond Rea backed the Chief Constable, and tonight that support was strengthened by the new offer, which is likely to be approved by Northern Secretary Peter Hain.
He said: "Since his appointment in 2002, Sir Hugh Orde has provided strong strategic leadership for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and has served with distinction."